The Alamanni were a Germanic people that figure prominently in the history of the later Empire. Despite their high profile, there has been surprisingly little written on them in English. This study ...
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The Alamanni were a Germanic people that figure prominently in the history of the later Empire. Despite their high profile, there has been surprisingly little written on them in English. This study aims to fill the gap. Drawing on the latest literary, historical, and archaeological research, it seeks to establish the origins of the Alamanni, the pattern and character of their settlement, the main features of their society, and the nature and significance of their relationship with Rome. It centres on the mid-4th century, recorded in detail by a variety of sources including Ammianus Marcellinus and the emperor Julian. It argues that, like the other western Germani encountered by Rome from the 1st century BC, the Alamanni were economically, socially, and politically far too weak to endanger the Empire. However, Roman rulers conjured up a ‘Germanic threat’, and exploited it for their own political ends. Rather than constantly imperilling the Empire's existence, the Alamanni became too closely linked to its fortunes. It was for this reason, in particular Roman restriction of their ability to unite under strong leaders, that unlike their long-standing neighbours the Burgundians and Franks, the Alamanni failed to establish a post-Roman successor kingdom in the 5th century.Less

The Alamanni and Rome 213-496 : (Caracalla to Clovis)

John F. Drinkwater

Published in print: 2007-01-25

The Alamanni were a Germanic people that figure prominently in the history of the later Empire. Despite their high profile, there has been surprisingly little written on them in English. This study aims to fill the gap. Drawing on the latest literary, historical, and archaeological research, it seeks to establish the origins of the Alamanni, the pattern and character of their settlement, the main features of their society, and the nature and significance of their relationship with Rome. It centres on the mid-4th century, recorded in detail by a variety of sources including Ammianus Marcellinus and the emperor Julian. It argues that, like the other western Germani encountered by Rome from the 1st century BC, the Alamanni were economically, socially, and politically far too weak to endanger the Empire. However, Roman rulers conjured up a ‘Germanic threat’, and exploited it for their own political ends. Rather than constantly imperilling the Empire's existence, the Alamanni became too closely linked to its fortunes. It was for this reason, in particular Roman restriction of their ability to unite under strong leaders, that unlike their long-standing neighbours the Burgundians and Franks, the Alamanni failed to establish a post-Roman successor kingdom in the 5th century.

In this period, the Empire weakened and Germani—strange (Visigoths) and familiar (Burgundians and Franks)—increasingly exploited the opportunity to partition Gaul, but not the Alamanni. These, in ...
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In this period, the Empire weakened and Germani—strange (Visigoths) and familiar (Burgundians and Franks)—increasingly exploited the opportunity to partition Gaul, but not the Alamanni. These, in line with cultural developments elsewhere in the western Germanic world, grew socially and politically more sophisticated, and their numbers were swelled by further waves of Elbe-Germanic migration. However, apart from their usual opportunistic raiding and a short spell in the 450s when they were under Hunnic domination, they remained loyal to the Empire. Their expansion, when it came, was marginal; and from around 496 they were absorbed by the Franks. This was principally because of their continuing symbiosis with Rome, which inhibited independent development and tied their fortunes to those of the declining Empire.Less

The Fifth Century

John F. Drinkwater

Published in print: 2007-01-25

In this period, the Empire weakened and Germani—strange (Visigoths) and familiar (Burgundians and Franks)—increasingly exploited the opportunity to partition Gaul, but not the Alamanni. These, in line with cultural developments elsewhere in the western Germanic world, grew socially and politically more sophisticated, and their numbers were swelled by further waves of Elbe-Germanic migration. However, apart from their usual opportunistic raiding and a short spell in the 450s when they were under Hunnic domination, they remained loyal to the Empire. Their expansion, when it came, was marginal; and from around 496 they were absorbed by the Franks. This was principally because of their continuing symbiosis with Rome, which inhibited independent development and tied their fortunes to those of the declining Empire.

Examination of Roman contact with western Germani, from the Cimbri in the late-2nd century BC to the Marcomanni in the late-2nd century AD, reveals that like the Alamanni to come, these posed no ...
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Examination of Roman contact with western Germani, from the Cimbri in the late-2nd century BC to the Marcomanni in the late-2nd century AD, reveals that like the Alamanni to come, these posed no threat to the Empire. Always inferior in number and in economic, social, and political development, they created no permanent Germanic ‘pressure’ on the frontier. Germani raided when they could and, if left alone, would probably have expanded just a few tens of miles east of the Rhine. But, to the 5th century AD, the Empire sedulously punished the former and prevented the latter. The ‘Germanic threat’ was, rather, devised by Julius Caesar and then constantly ‘spun’ by successive Roman leaders in order to justify the existence of the Empire and to help them achieve their own political ends. The major aggressors on the Rhine were not Germani, but Romans.Less

Prelude

John F. Drinkwater

Published in print: 2007-01-25

Examination of Roman contact with western Germani, from the Cimbri in the late-2nd century BC to the Marcomanni in the late-2nd century AD, reveals that like the Alamanni to come, these posed no threat to the Empire. Always inferior in number and in economic, social, and political development, they created no permanent Germanic ‘pressure’ on the frontier. Germani raided when they could and, if left alone, would probably have expanded just a few tens of miles east of the Rhine. But, to the 5th century AD, the Empire sedulously punished the former and prevented the latter. The ‘Germanic threat’ was, rather, devised by Julius Caesar and then constantly ‘spun’ by successive Roman leaders in order to justify the existence of the Empire and to help them achieve their own political ends. The major aggressors on the Rhine were not Germani, but Romans.

This book explores the presidency of Hugo Chávez Frías of Venezuela (1999–present) in the context of theory on populism. It examines issues such as the continued relevance of populism itself in Latin ...
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This book explores the presidency of Hugo Chávez Frías of Venezuela (1999–present) in the context of theory on populism. It examines issues such as the continued relevance of populism itself in Latin American politics, populism's origins in the profound race/class cleavages found in the region, its ideological diversity, with, however, a programmatic emphasis on popular participation, and finally populist claims to legitimacy within a region with weak democratic institutions. It contends that it is sometimes necessary to step outside and infringe existing institutionality when that institutionality lacks legitimacy and is acting against democracy's progressive tendencies. It also looks at the dispute on populism between the ‘historical/sociological perspective’ of Gino Germani and others, and the ‘ideological perspective’ of Ernesto Laclau. Central to Germani's theories was the belief that modernisation processes formed the context in which populism emerged in Latin America. The book concludes by looking at the role of neoliberal globalisation in increasing inequality in the region.Less

Introduction

Barry Cannon

Published in print: 2009-12-01

This book explores the presidency of Hugo Chávez Frías of Venezuela (1999–present) in the context of theory on populism. It examines issues such as the continued relevance of populism itself in Latin American politics, populism's origins in the profound race/class cleavages found in the region, its ideological diversity, with, however, a programmatic emphasis on popular participation, and finally populist claims to legitimacy within a region with weak democratic institutions. It contends that it is sometimes necessary to step outside and infringe existing institutionality when that institutionality lacks legitimacy and is acting against democracy's progressive tendencies. It also looks at the dispute on populism between the ‘historical/sociological perspective’ of Gino Germani and others, and the ‘ideological perspective’ of Ernesto Laclau. Central to Germani's theories was the belief that modernisation processes formed the context in which populism emerged in Latin America. The book concludes by looking at the role of neoliberal globalisation in increasing inequality in the region.

Studying loanwords is impossible without paying some attention to external, non-linguistic history as well as to purely internal linguistic factors. This chapter highlights some of the most important ...
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Studying loanwords is impossible without paying some attention to external, non-linguistic history as well as to purely internal linguistic factors. This chapter highlights some of the most important historical factors relevant to the early history of loanwords in English. The pre-history of the Anglo-Saxon invaders of Britain is considered, with an examination of contacts between the Germani and other peoples, including the Romans and Celts, in continental Europe. The social, cultural, and linguistic situation in Celtic and Roman Britain is considered, as well as the likely impacts of the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons. The conversion to Christianity is considered, as well as the successive impacts of Scandinavian raids and settlement. Finally, the changes brought about by the Norman Conquest are assessed.Less

Historical and cultural background to c.1150

Philip Durkin

Published in print: 2014-01-23

Studying loanwords is impossible without paying some attention to external, non-linguistic history as well as to purely internal linguistic factors. This chapter highlights some of the most important historical factors relevant to the early history of loanwords in English. The pre-history of the Anglo-Saxon invaders of Britain is considered, with an examination of contacts between the Germani and other peoples, including the Romans and Celts, in continental Europe. The social, cultural, and linguistic situation in Celtic and Roman Britain is considered, as well as the likely impacts of the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons. The conversion to Christianity is considered, as well as the successive impacts of Scandinavian raids and settlement. Finally, the changes brought about by the Norman Conquest are assessed.